Your garage can be a killer! That’s an attention-grabbing claim, isn’t it? However, it’s not an exaggeration from a safety freak. It’s the truth, as statistics sadly show. People die in garage accidents all too often. Severe injuries are even more common. These tragedies are preventable. Here are six common causes of garage accidents and how to keep them from becoming a problem.
1. The Garage Door
The door is the most common culprit in garage accidents. According to statistics from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 30,000 injuries are caused by garage doors each year, and some of the injuries result in death. What can you do to prevent becoming part of these garage accident statistics?
- Make sure your garage door system has an automatic reverse that causes the door to open if it strikes anything while closing
- Never try DIY repair on garage door torsion springs because they can snap or uncoil rapidly with tremendous force
- If opening the door manually, use the door handle rather than pulling down on a panel edge which can lead to crushed fingertips
- Choose a door with finger-trap protection in its design
- Install a door with a safety device that stops the door from falling if a torsion spring breaks
2. Carbon Monoxide
CO is doesn’t have an odor, so it can kill you before you realize you’re being poisoned by it. Here’s how to prevent problems:
- Never warm up the car in the garage, even with the garage door open
- Never shut the garage door before you turn off the vehicle because it’s possible to fall asleep, for example, while listening to that last great song or two when arriving home late at night
- Install a carbon monoxide monitor in the house on a wall adjoining the garage and in living space above the garage
- Never run a generator or other gas-powered equipment in the garage
3. Gasoline
Gas spills in the garage or escaping fumes from a gas storage container can cause explosion or fire. They can be prevented with these tips:
- Store gasoline outside or in a shed and only in approved containers
- If you see that gas has dripped from your vehicle, have the leak repaired immediately
- Fill gas-powered equipment outside rather than in the garage
- Never install a gas-fired furnace or water heater in the garage because gas fumes can reach the ignition flame and explode
- Follow these tips for any flammable liquid such as kerosene and paint thinner
4. Your Vehicles
Young kids like to play in cars. However, it may be possible for them to climb into the car and lock the door without being able to unlock it. Disaster can result, especially if the garage is hot or the keys are left in the vehicle and the child starts it. Here’s how to prevent problems:
- Keep your vehicles locked, and you won’t need the other tips
- Don’t leave your keys in the car
- Keep a tool handy like the Resqme Quick Car Escape Tool that will allow you to break a vehicle’s window to save a trapped child
5. Clutter
Did you know that people have been injured and killed by falling clutter in their own homes? It happens more often than you might imagine. Clutter can cause trips and falls too. Here are a few ideas to prevent this danger from striking in the garage:
- Have a garage sale, and make a few bucks while improving garage safety
- Move excess gear, tools, toys and equipment to a shed or storage facility (rather than to the basement, where the same clutter problems can develop)
- Don’t allow kids to play in the garage unattended
- Don’t stack boxes and bins high enough to become a toppling problem
- Install bright lights, so you can see where you’re going and what’s on the ground in front of you
- Keep kids’ toys elsewhere or on or near the ground, so children won’t be hurt trying to pull them down from a shelf or hook
6. Chemicals your Pet Might Like
Let’s not forget our little friends in this discussion! Engine coolant, road salt and ice-melting granules are poisonous, but some pets like the way they taste. Keep your furry friends safe with these tips:
- Keep your pets out of the garage
- Use towels, sawdust or kitty litter to absorb and remove spills
- Have your car serviced if it is leaking coolant
- Wash your car frequently in winter
- Remove salt from the garage floor with a hose or mop and water
An Ounce of Prevention can Keep you Safe from Garage Accidents
You know the old saying, right, so take preventative measures today by using this guide as a checklist. An organized garage is a safe garage and you’ll be making your garage a safer place for adults, kids and pets too.
Author: Matt Milstead is a blogger and writer from Australia interested in and covering topics related to safety. As the father of a toddler, Matt enjoys nothing more than getting away from work and spending time traveling with his family. He can be reached on Twitter via @mattmlstd.
